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Using BuyOwner.com to Buy Your Home

Jul21
2010
Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

There are so many great reasons to buy your own home. Are you ready? Wondering how to get the best deal and how to make the most informed decision? Maybe it’s time to consider Buy Owner!

As the nation’s leading for-sale-by-owner marketing company, Buy Owner provides the strength of an established advertising company and the resource of thousands of for-sale properties nationwide. Buy Owner sellers are great to work with, as they’re looking to cut commissions/costs just as much as you are, in order for everyone to get the best deal.

Ready to get started?

Here’s how to buy a home with Buy Owner:

  1. Go to BuyOwner.com and search!
  2. Narrow down your criteria and choose which homes you’re most interested in.
  3. Contact the Buy Owner sellers of those homes, and ask questions you may have.
  4. Schedule private showings of the homes.
  5. Make an offer on the home you want.
  6. Negotiate.
  7. BUY! And in the process… Save money. Enjoy being in control of your purchase. Reap the rewards for years to come.

Of course the prospect of buying a home, whether it’s your first one or not, can be daunting. But with Buy Owner, you have the comfort of knowing you’re dealing with motivated sellers and saving commission costs! That’s why using Buy Owner to buy your home makes so much sense.

What are you waiting for? Get started today!

Go to BuyOwner.com.

Posted in Buying Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged buying a home with buy owner, how to buy a home, using buy owner to buy a home
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Saving Money to Buy a New Home

Nov18
2008
1 Comment Written by Shanna

Congratulations! If you’re considering buying a new home, now is a fantastic time to do it! Choosing to invest in the American Dream is an exciting decision, but, as you probably know, it’s also a big responsibility. In fact, for most people, purchasing a home will be the single largest investment they’ll ever make. That’s why it’s critically important to know a little bit about what you’re doing before you get started.

First things first: Where are you going to get the money to buy a new home? Saving up for a house down-payment can seem daunting, but with some savvy planning, it’s possible. In order to know the goal you’re working towards, though, you need to know what price range you’re looking at.

Take a look at this article for tips on shopping for a new home. Even when you’re not quite ready to move, narrowing down the location and type of home you’re wanting will allow you to compare prices better. Then you can come up with a price range for your target down-payment goal. Most experts agree you should be prepared to put down 20% of a home’s selling price when you purchase it. The more you can put down, the less you need to borrow (and pay interest on), so it makes sense to save up.

OK, so you know how much money you need. How can you save up?

Take a look at how much you already have saved compared to your goal amount. Then, it’s time to reevaluate your spending habits and see what you can do to accelerate savings.

Here are some ideas for savvy savings:

Cut back on unnecessary purchases: After you pay for the basics (rent, other bills, insurance, food, transportation, etc.), where does your money go? If you’re like most Americans, it goes towards little luxuries like eating out, magazine subscriptions, entertainment, new clothes, coffee, etc. Evaluate what things are needed and what things could be cut down. Remember, the decision to buy a home is a big one, and it may require sacrificing short-term pleasures in pursuit of long-term ones.

Look for additional sources of income: Beyond cutting your expenses, finding ways to increase your cash inflow is the best way to put away more money into savings. Brainstorm to see what additional income sources you can come up with!

Use all the information above to create a plan that works for you, and you should be able to estimate a timeline of savings, knowing approximately when you’ll be ready to purchase.

To stay motivated, keep your eye on the goal: browse the for-sale-by-owner listings at BuyOwner.com!

Posted in Buying Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged buying a home, buying real estate, fsbo, home purchase, real estate tips, saving for a down-payment on a home, saving money, ways to save money
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How to Shop for a Home

Aug21
2008
1 Comment Written by Shanna

House Keys

Are you hunting for your first or next home? Be sure to check out the extensive listings at Buyowner.com, which offers professional advertising of current “For Sale by Owner” properties. When you’ve found a few you like, you’ll be able to contact the sellers directly, cutting out the middlemen (and their commissions!).

The next step is touring homes. When you visit properties in person, what should you be looking for, and how will you know what to ask?

1. Know What You Need.
The most important thing you can do, before visiting any properties, is to determine what must-haves are necessary for your home purchase. Do some serious thinking about size, location, amount of yard space—so much of what you need to be looking for depends upon what your individual needs are. Once you have a set mental list, you’re ready to shop.

2. Bring Questions.
Buy Owner home sellers should be more than happy to answer your questions and give you whatever additional information you need. So, armed with the list of things you need, be ready to ask the sellers specifics.

3. Try to See If the Home is a Good Fit.
In addition to the predetermined questions you’ll ask–about room size or age of appliances or whatever’s important to you, here are a few more questions you may want to consider. Remember, the most important thing is to get all the information you need to make a decision.

Potential questions (some for sellers, some for you):

  • Will my present furniture work in this house?
  • Is there enough space for my belongings?
  • How close will I be to work or school?
  • Is there any damage to the home or are there repairs that will need to be done?
  • Will I need to replace appliances, carpeting, wall paint or anything else?
  • If the current appliances stay, do they come with warranties?
  • When were the plumbing, the wiring and the roof last updated?
  • What are the neighbors like (try meeting them yourself, as well as asking the sellers)?

A home purchase is too big of a decision to rush into or to make without a lot of information. Take your time, arm yourself with knowledge and get prepared to find the right place for you!

If you enjoyed this post, consider subscribing to the Buy Owner Blog!

Posted in Buying Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged buying a for sale by owner home, buying a home, how to buy a home, preparing to buy a home, questions to ask, what to know about buying a home
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Money-Saving Tips for New Homeowners

Aug07
2008
Leave a Comment Written by Carrie

Piggy Bank At Buy Owner, our mission is making home ownership more affordable for you. By cutting out commissions and giving you control of your home sale, we reduce costs and save you money!

And Buy Owner savings aren’t just for sellers! When you’re buying a new home, we want to help you make the process as affordable as possible. Buying a new place? Here are a few quick ideas on how to save money after making that huge purchase, designed to lower your cost of living by looking at things creatively! The most important thing to remember is to keep an open mind and look for new ways to save.

Buy Your Home Buy Owner

  • Search http://www.buyowner.com/: Browse current listings, and talk with sellers directly when you’re interested. Take a look at other helpful articles at the Buy Owner Blog for more advice.
  • Buy Buy Owner: A home listed “For Sale by Owner” means there will be no sales commissions. Savings for the seller translates into savings for you!

Save Money on Home Insurance

  • Shop around: Home insurance is an important purchase for your residence. Take the time to look at several companies. The right insurance provider will give you high-quality service for an affordable price.
  • Increase home security: A security alarm, dead-bolt locks and smoke detectors can get you almost as 5% discount with most insurance companies!
  • Raise your deductible: Raising a $200 deductible to $450 could save up to 12% on insurance!

Phone & Internet

  • Shop around: As with your home insurance researching, it pays to look at your options and know what’s available.
  • Stick with a cell phone: If you find yourself constantly using your cell phone, there is no point in having a LAN line. The main downside to this is that you may not be able to get service in your basement. You can even access the Internet, as well. You may be able to find an affordable cell plan that includes free mobile-to-mobile calls, internet usage and text messaging. If you use your cell phone for calls, e-mails, research, etc., you will not need to pay a separate bill. And if you do not have a computer, you may not even have to purchase one if it is not a necessity!

Transportation

  • Downsize: Just because you have a three-car garage, it doesn’t mean that you need to own three vehicles. With gas prices at an all-time high in the U.S., it would really benefit you to downsize from an SUV to a coupe or to search for any type of fuel-efficient automobile. Not owning a car would also create tons of extra storage space in your garage.
  • Use public transportation: If you live in an urban area, you might be able to solely use public transportation! Do some research online to find out how much monthly or yearly passes for buses and trains cost. Even if your city doesn’t offer such an affordable plan, it still might be cheaper to take the train or hop on the bus rather than spending money on gas each week.

If you enjoyed this post, consider subscribing to the Buy Owner Blog!

Posted in Buying Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged Buy Owner tips, buying a home, buying a home affordably, how to buy a home, money-saving strategies, saving money with real estate
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Newlywed Home-Buying 101

Aug05
2008
3 Comments Written by Alicia

newly married With wedding season coming to an end, many newly wedded couples are finding themselves with the question of where to live next. Whether they are coming from two separate homes or from a shared apartment, most couples want to make a significant improvement to correspond with the important change they just made in their lives. If you find yourself in this category, here are some tips in helping you find your very first home as a married couple.

DECIDING WHERE TO LIVE

First of all, you must decide, preferably before the wedding bells sound, what kind of home you want to move into. An apartment costs significantly less than a home, but you will be paying rent forever with no benefits. If you rent a house from landlords, you still have the luxury of living in a house without the hassle of dealing with problems that occur within the house. But again, you never have the chance to call it your own. (Link to buying first home) Depending on your annual income as a couple, your future plans and your monthly expenses, this is a decision you will need to reach together. Take your time. It’s a big one.

THINKING ABOUT BUYING A HOME

If you do decide to buy a home, there are steps that you may not be aware of. The obvious first step is to decide what area you would like to live in. Do you want to surround yourself with other young couples? Do you want children around incase you decide to start a family? If you don’t look into this major detail, you may accidentally find yourself living in a retirement community.

Also, check out the town. If you have to wake up early for work, chances are you don’t want to live by a loud airport or train track. If you commute to work, see how conveniently located the interstates are. If entertainment is what you seek, check your proximity to shopping malls, grocery stores, restaurants, golf courses, nature parks or whatever interests you most. If you plan on owning a pet someday, look to see if there are sidewalk paths. When starting a life together, you want to notice more than how impressive the house looks.

PREPARING TO BUY A HOME

Once you find the area you want to live in, start looking at the homes around there to see price ranges. Once you know what you’re dealing with, you can sit down together and talk finances. Hopefully you have already discussed the exact bills that you each pay per month, so you have an idea of the level of income you have coming in together. Take into account your phone bills, insurance costs, car payments, etc. Take a trip to the grocery store together to figure out what you both like to eat, so you can estimate how much these trips will cost. Though you’ve been dealing with groceries and bills for what seems like forever, it all might change when considering another person in your plans. Once you come up with a budget you’re willing to spend, look for houses close to that budget. If you need a loan to help you out, make sure you get preapproved for one.

FINDING A HOME TO BUY

Start looking around together by going through advertisements on BuyOwner.com. Take tours of homes. Look online. You’ll start realizing what’s most important for you two to have. Are tornadoes common in your area? You probably want to make sure your home provides a basement. Do you already have a lot to store? Look for a house with an attic. Have you grown up your whole life with a pool and cannot possibly imagine life without one? Okay, well now you know. It’s important to consider the little things too. Do you own a lot of high-tech electronics? Check to see how many electrical plugs are available. Try to think of what’s most important to you two. If you disagree, compromise. You may not find everything you dreamt of just yet.

BUYING A HOME

Once you find the affordable home that satisfies you, have it inspected. Don’t save the money to not have this done. You’ll be sorry down the road when you find something terribly, unexpectedly wrong. If the house still turns out okay, decide how much to put down on the house. Again, go over finances for the next several months so you don’t suddenly find your bank account empty. Then, pay a down payment. The house is yours!

After that, the to-do list is not quite completed. Decide what homeowners insurance to obtain. Consider casualties, such as fires, flooding and wind damage; liability, which protects you against lawsuits from people injure themselves on your property; and personal property, which includes the protection for the items inside your home. Decide exactly what you want, and make sure that is what you obtain.

MOVING TO YOUR NEW HOME

Make plans with a moving company. Know exactly when to have them show up, how much space you’ll need for your stuff and what time they can arrive at your new home. If they need to pick up from two separate homes, make sure they know that. Good communication with the moving company is vital. They have full responsibility of everything you own.

Arrange for when to turn on the utilities in your new home. Make address changes. Start packing. Don’t pack everything you’ve ever owned. Figure out what you each own and whose you’ll take with you. If you can’t decide whether you should bring something, try to imagine exactly where you’d put it in the house. Don’t think about what you need to buy yet. You’ll just end up flustered and more confused. Saying goodbye to sentimental objects will be hard, but unpacking at your new home will later be a breeze.

Congratulations! You did it! Now that the hardest part is over, work on sharing your space with the person you love.

If you enjoyed this post, consider subscribing to the Buy Owner Blog!

Posted in Tips and Ideas - Tagged buy owner, buying a home, buying a home together, buying by owner, buying for sale by owner, buying your first home, home buying, home ownership, newly married real estate, newlywed real estate, newlyweds, real estate 101, your first place
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About the BuyOwner.com Blog

Welcome to the BuyOwner.com Blog, your source for regularly updated market information!

Founded in 1984, BuyOwner.com® is the leading provider of real estate marketing services. We pioneered the "For Sale by Owner" (FSBO) market, which today represents over 20 percent of all residential real estate transactions.

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